Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 6.djvu/29

THADDEUS KOSCIUSKO 219 deeds of their countrymen, had also raised the standard of independence, and were successful in driving the Russians from the city, after a murderous conflict of three days. In Lithuania and Samogitia an equally successful revolution was effected before the end of April, while the Polish troops stationed in Volhynia and Podolia marched to the reinforcement of Kosciusko. Thus far fortune seemed to smile upon the cause of Polish freedom the scene was, however, about to change. The undaunted Kosciusko, having first organized a national council to conduct the affairs of government, once more ad- vanced against the Russians. On his march he met a new enemy in the person of the faithless Frederick William, of Prussia, who, without having even gone through the preliminary of declaring war, had advanced into Poland at the head of 40,000 men. Kosciusko, with but 13,000 men, attacked the Prussian army on June 8th, at Szcekociny. The battle was long and bloody ; at length, overwhelmed by numbers, he was obliged to retreat toward Warsaw. This he effected in so able a manner that his enemies did not dare to harass him in his march ; and he ef- fectually covered the capital and maintained his position for two' months against vigorous and continued attacks. Immediately after this reverse the Polish gen- eral, Zaionczeck, lost the battle of Chelm, and the Governor of Cracow had the baseness to deliver the town to the Prussians without attempting a defence. These disasters occasioned disturbances among the disaffected at Warsaw, which, however, were put down by the vigor and firmness of Kosciusko. On July 13th the forces of the Prussians and Russians, amounting to 50,000 men, assembled under the walls of Warsaw, and commenced the siege of that city. After six weeks spent before the place, and a succession of bloody conflicts, the confederates were obliged to raise the siege ; but this respite to the Poles was but of short duration. Their enemies increased fearfully in number, while their own resources dimin- ished. Austria now determined to assist in the annihilation of Poland, and caused a body of her troops to enter that kingdom. Nearly at the same mo- ment the Russians ravaged Lithuania ; and the two corps of the Russian army commanded by Suwarof and Fersen, effected their junction in spite of the battle of Krupezyce, which the Poles had ventured upon, with doubtful issue, against the first of these commanders, on September 16th. Upon receiving intelligence of these events Kosciusko left Warsaw, and placed himself at the head of the Polish army. He was attacked by the very su- perior forces of the confederates on October 10, 1794, at a place called Macieiow- ice, and for many hours supported the combat against overwhelming odds. At length he was severely wounded, and as he fell, he uttered the prophetic words " Finis Polonies." It is asserted that he had exacted from his followers an oath, not to suffer him to fall alive into the hands of the Russians, and that in conse- quence the Polish cavalry, being unable to carry him off, inflicted some severe sabre wounds on him and left him for dead on the field ; a savage fidelity, which we half admire even in condemning it. Be this as it may, he was recognized and